Gail in Virginia

But you might need to look at FBAR requirements to see if this triggers a filing requirement for her.

This is one of the times that clicking a "Like" button just doesn't seem right. I don't like it, and I am sure you don't either. I am so sorry for your loss.

I am just wondering if this is part of the reason hold times are so long when you actually call for yourself.............

I tend to match my referrals out to the reason i am referring. If it is someone that I wouldn't mind doing the return, but they want a RAL and I don't do those, I send them to a competent, professional office that sends me referrals for more complex issues they don't have time for. If it is someone who wants to push the ethical envelope, I know the local preparers that will help them push, and send them that way. They might as well go to jail together - I just don't want to be part of it.

My office is about 12 miles from the house. And we have Saturday office hours. And evenings. But not Sunday. Occasionally, I come in to work on Sunday afternoons to catch up. And yes, people will show up. But I have started parking at an apartment near here so that my car is not apparent when I am in the office catching up, and I don't turn any lights on if I can help it. That cuts down on the banging on the door business and they use the drop box because they don't think that I am here. I should be more like Rita instead of sneaking into my own office. *sigh*

I had not found that. THANKS!

Virginia requires W2s by Jan. 31, or if the company goes out of business or ceases to have employees, by 30 days after the last employee payment.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/6_-xTxP1hD4?autoplay=1 For those of you who don't click on links, you can see the video by going to YouTube, searching for "Pass the Salt" and watching the video by Matthew Abeler. Nice commentary on cell phones at the table.

Is he a W-2 employee or does he already have a schedule C? Is he deducting the cost of the computer anywhere as employee business expense? is this the first year he has done this, or the first year that the company has sent him a 1099? I must admit I have never seen it handled this way. Would the depreciation for the computer come anywhere close to wiping out the income from the 1099? Ordinarily, I would expect that if this payment were subject to social security, it would be included in his W2, and he would only be able to deduct the cost of the computer as an employee business expense on Schedule A, subject to the 2% haircut - provided he is an employee and not a contract hire. I am curious to see what others think of this.

I usually order a bunch by mail from the IRS for a few clients who need just one or two and can type or hand write them. In a pinch, I have torn the first page off the IRS packet and run it through my laser printer when I have run out of the forms that I order for me. So far, I have had pretty good luck with that, but your mileage may vary.

Maybe he was just trying to ketchup!

I don't mind the music - I hate the constant interruptions to tell me that my call is important and that if I call back later this might increase my wait time. I understood that the first 10 times you told me so. I don't have to hear it every 30 seconds.

“Here’s to the best damned antagonist a guy could ask for.”

This was one of the reasons that I switched to ProSeries, and the fact that I continue to see posts about this issue is a major reason that I have not switched back. And I won't switch back until I see a tax season where this does not pop up. With all of the program issues that have to be done last minute due to law changes, and the glitches that result from that, why would I want to use a program that won't fix a KNOWN issue during the off-season?

I have had a couple; interestingly enough one was on a painting contractor who is not even liable for sales tax. They did manage to find a receipt where a vendor failed to charge sales tax. Fortunately, this particular client did not shop on the internet so they only found the one item. Nonetheless, it was a pain. I also had a couple of retail operations get audited. I don't really have any tips except to be cooperative, and check what they find. Apparently, the state of Virginia needs the money so they are hunting for errors.

My most recent card was issued 4/1/14, and expires 3/31/17. I don't know what will happen then, but I did get new card in 2014.

I think a lot of tax preparers probably have this talent from lots of practice either reading the forms our clients are holding in their hot little hands and reading to us, or turning forms around so the clients can see and then explaining them while they are upside down.

Getting closer to the 'holodeck" of Star Trek, aren't we?

That was easy enough. Nice when someone says the survey only takes a few minutes, and it really does!

My son used to reverse his phone to white letters on black screen when he was at the movies so that he could text without the light from the phone disturbing other people. I don't think he did it to save battery life, but maybe.

If anyone ever caught my grandmother talking to her self, and said something to her about it, she just smiled and said "I love to hear a wise woman speak."

This year we won't be dancing until after April 18. Tax season just gets longer and longer.

I am a big believer in if it ain't broke, don't fix it. All of our work computers are on Win 7 and it works. I ain't messing with it. Especially right before tax season!

I work in Rocky Mount, VA and live in Wirtz. Both are in Franklin County - formerly known as the Moonshine Capital of the World and setting for the movie Lawless. And i would not count on the government putting us out of business. There are too many special interests involved. Even if someone manages to pass a tax program that is simple, straightforward and comprehensible, after a short vacation enough exceptions and loopholes will be passed to complicate it again and we will be back in business. At least that is my cynical expectation.

As long as I have the wisdom and grace to retire before I lose my ability to concentrate and retain new information, I will be happy. I think that point comes at different times for everyone, and if you are still enjoying what you do, and still able to do it well, why retire? Unless, of course, you have other responsibilities that are requiring your time or other adventures that you want to pursue!